“We can’t get anywhere at the bargaining table because SEPTA has pinned their hopes on getting an injunction to end the strike,” Brown wrote in a released statement. “SEPTA Board Chairman Pat Deon’s plan all along has been to rely on the courts rather than negotiations. He is the one using the election as leverage. This is not the way to end a strike or get an agreement. It’s foolhardy to launch a legal Hail Mary pass designed to make SEPTA’s high-priced lawyers richer and circumvent the collective bargaining process.”

“We need to finish bargaining on the pension fund in particular,” Brown wrote. “We have nearly 5,000 workers in our union, SEPTA employs roughly 1,700 managers, yet they put more money into the management plan than frontline workers get. On top of that last year SEPTA secretly gave each management retiree a $6,000 annual increase in their pension checks. Managers have both a defined benefit pension and a generous match to a 401k plan.”

“SEPTA has been at the table willing to negotiate with the TWU all day,” she said. “TWU was due to present a proposal at 1 p.m. Saturday. It was not presented to SEPTA until 5 p.m.”

Lee also claimed what the TWU is asking for in their latest proposal “is not affordable.”

“SEPTA is committed in remaining at the table and getting a contract signed well in advance of the election,” she said.

SEPTA late Friday filed a request for a court injunction, saying the strike is threatening public safety and will interfere with Election Day voting. A judge delayed a ruling and will take additional testimony on Monday.

The union's 4,700 workers walked off the job after midnight Monday, shutting down transit service that provides about 900,000 rides a day.

The University of Pennsylvania partnered with Drexel University, the University of Pennsylvania Health System and Children's Hospital of Philadelphia to provide complimentary transit services to all employees of these institutions and organizations at Penn. CLICK HERE for more information.

TEMPLE UNIVERSITY'S SEPTA STRIKE CONTINGENCY PLAN

Temple University released contingency plans to help members of the university community during the strike. CLICK HERE to learn more.

UBER EXPANDS UBERPOOL COVERAGE

Uber announced they would expand its uberPOOL coverage throughout the greater Philadelphia area during the strike. CLICK HERE to learn more.

Zipcar announced they would discount its cars in Philadelphia with $5 hourly reservations available on more than 100 zipcars near SEPTA stops for those who are without transportation. CLICK HERE to learn more.

PPA DISCOUNTS, RELAXED ENFORCEMENT

The Philadelphia Parking Authority discounted parking prices at some garages and relaxed residential and meter parking rules to deal with more drivers in Philadelphia. CLICK HERE to learn more.